About - Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom

Mission

To develop students’ understanding of Wyoming’s vast resources in order that they become informed citizens, capable of serving as stewards for Wyoming’s future.

Vision Statement

Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom envisions a future in which the interdependence of Wyoming’s people, agriculture, and natural resources is acknowledged and valued for the benefit of all our communities.

Purpose

Provide educational resources to empower Wyoming’s future.

Core Beliefs

We believe Wyoming’s youth and adults should have opportunities to explore the world of agriculture and natural resources through science-based education.

We believe Wyoming’s education systems provide the most effective vehicle for delivering this knowledge and learning.

We are committed to partnering in learning opportunities involving agriculture and natural resources.

Goals

Assist Wyoming educators and students to develop a scientific, economic, and cultural understanding of Wyoming’s agriculture and natural resources.

Create, provide, and promote quality educational materials on agriculture and natural resources in correlation to the Wyoming State Education Standards.

Manage the strategic and fiduciary responsibilities of Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom to maintain its role as a leading source for agriculture and natural resource education.

About Us—Our History

In 1985, several committees were formed to foster support for agriculture and natural resource youth education. During a meeting on February 3, 1986, the motion was made to title the organization Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom (WAIC). In 1988, Chairman Gene Pexton and Elaine Moore worked diligently to create the first Agriculture in the Classroom magazine. They mailed out 19,300 copies to 4th and 5th grade students. The magazine was titled ‘Country to Classroom’ and WAIC still continues the education efforts today.

In 2001, WAIC entered into an agreement with the Wyoming Department of Agriculture to have a full time employee within the department and under the direction of WAIC. The Chairman at the time was Del Tinsley and Ron Micheli was the Director at the Wyoming Department of Agriculture. Both played a crucial role in securing funding for the employment position. The next Chairman of WAIC, Keith Geis continued to develop funding sources for the organization and was instrumental in WAIC’s continued growth.

In 2005, Encana presented an opportunity for WAIC by providing $750,000 for an endowment if WAIC could match the funds. Chairman Dennis Sun led the effort with the help of the WAIC Board of Directors and the endowment goal of $1.5 million was reached in 2008. WAIC is grateful for Encana’s gift and all the Wyoming support.

In 2011, WAIC took another step led by Chairman Mantha Phillips to become a self-sustaining non-profit organization with the hiring of a full-time Executive Director. Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom no longer has an employee within the Wyoming Department of Agriculture but greatly values our current partnership.

In 2015, WAIC began the development of the Wyoming Stewardship Project. Feedback solicited from industry leaders and stakeholders was collected and utilized by a team of educators. Elementary educators from across the state gathered for intensive workshops in the summers of 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, where they wrote and revised the lessons for the Wyoming Stewardship Project curriculum. The curriculum was officially and successfully launched in 2019.

In 2021, WAIC launched and completed the Wyoming’s Students, Wyoming’s Future capital campaign by raising $4.7 million towards the endowment and funding for increased program support to educators and classrooms across Wyoming.

In 2023, the Wyoming Stewardship Project received a re-brand. The curriculum is now known as Wyo Wonders and continues our legacy of stewardship-based education for Wyoming classrooms.

The organization continues to grow foundational programs with a priority placed on Wyo Wonders – our free curriculum for classrooms across the state. WAIC’s success is Wyoming’s success and offers an opportunity to help grow Wyoming’s next generation.

Thank you to all our supporters; your unwavering generosity keeps us moving forward. We do not take the task of providing agriculture and natural resource education lightly and want our supporters to know our efforts are as diligent as ever.

Making a difference
for Wyoming’s youth starts with you.

We’re working to ensure that future generations of our state’s leaders, critical thinkers, and problem solvers become stewards for our state—and it’s only with your support that we can make it happen!

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